Racing: Ellerslie surface passes test for return to racing

Racing returns to Ellerslie on Saturday after extensive drainage work on the racecourse, as stage one of a two-part process.

The track refurbishments at Ellerslie are modelled on the sand-slit drainage projects that have proven so successful in recent years at the Te Rapa and Awapuni tracks.

The final piece in the first stage of the project was completed on Monday when Takanini trainers Trevor and Stephen McKee brought four horses to Ellerslie to assess the fitness of the racing surface for Saturday's meeting.

Experienced riders Lee Tiley, Matthew Williamson, Nathan Hanley and Bob Vance galloped the horses in company over the area of works from the crossing to the 1070m mark and were glowing in their comments as to its readiness for racing.

Stipendiary steward Alan Coles inspected the area and gave his seal of approval for the return of racing this Saturday.

With the upcoming Queens Birthday Carnival it was important to have the track passed fit for racing by such experienced horse people, said director of racing Andrew Castles.

The rail will be at 10.5m this Saturday before being moved to the true position for the two-day meeting at Queens Birthday Weekend.

After recent rain in Auckland the track is still in remarkably good order with a penetrometer reading of 3.2 (easy).

On Saturday the listed Great Northern Foal Stakes for 2-year-olds and the McGregor Grant Steeplechase will be run, as the lead-up to Queens Birthday Monday's Northern Steeples over 4900m and for a stake of $50,000.